There are at least 31 game and 59 non-game fish species known to occur in Montana. Among Montana's fish, three are listed as endangered or threatened species and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks lists a number of species as species of concern.Species of concern are native taxa that are at-risk due to declining population trends, threats to their habitats, restricted distribution, and/or other factors. Designation as a Montana species of concern or potential species of concern is based on the Montana status rank, and is not a statutory or regulatory classification. Rather, these designations provide information that helps resource managers make proactive decisions regarding species conservation and data collection priorities.

Species are listed by common name, scientific name, typical habitat and occurrence. Common and scientific names are from the Montana Field Guide.

Game fish

Trout

Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Salmonidae Native species Westslope cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi (Salish: pisɫ) Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri Columbia River redband trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri Bull trout, Salvelinus confluentus (Salish: aáy or ɫaʔáy; Kutenai: tuhuǂ) Montana Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus montanus Lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush Mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni (Salish: x̣ʷy̓u) Pygmy whitefish, Prosopium coulteri Lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis

Non-native, exotic species Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Other than the red band subspecies, rainbow trout are an introduced species in Montana) Brown trout, Salmo trutta Golden trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis Arctic grayling, Thymallus arcticus - adfluvial grayling introduced into Montana Lakes Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Kokanee salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka Cisco, Coregonus artedi

Paddlefish

Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Polyodontidae Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula

Pike Order: Esociformes, Family: Esocidae Non-native, exotic species Northern pike, Esox lucius Tiger muskellunge, Esox masquinongy × lucius

Bass, Sunfish

Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae Non-native, exotic species Black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus Largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides Smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu White crappie, Pomoxis annularis

Perch

Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae Native species Sauger, Sander canadensis Non-native, exotic species Yellow perch, Perca flavescens Walleye, Sander vitreus

Catfish Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae Native species Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

Sturgeon Order: Acipenseriformes, Family: Acipenseridae Native species Pallid sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus albus Shovelnose sturgeon, Scaphirhynchus platorynchus White sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus

Burbot

Order: Gadiformes, Family: Gadidae Native species Burbot, Lota lota

Non-game fish

Bass, sunfish

Order: Perciformes, Family: Centrarchidae Non-native, exotic species Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus Pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus Rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris

Perch Order: Perciformes, Family: Percidae Native species Iowa darter, Etheostoma exile

Temperate basses Order: Perciformes, Family: Moronidae Non-native, exotic species White bass, Morone chrysops

Catfish

Order: Siluriformes, Family: Ictaluridae Native species Stonecat, Noturus flavus Non-native, exotic species Black bullhead, Ameiurus melas Yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis

Drum Order: Perciformes, Family: Sciaenidae Native species Freshwater drum, Aplodinotus grunniens

Smelt Order: Salmoniformes, Family: Osmeridae Non native, exotic species Rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax

Gars

Order: Lepisosteiformes. Family: Lepisosteidae Native species Shortnose gar, Lepisosteus platostomus

Mooneyes Order: Hiodontiformes, Family: Hiodontidae Native species Goldeye, Hiodon alosoides

Mollies

Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Poeciliidae Non-native, exotic species Green swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri Sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna Shortfin molly, Poecilia mexicana Variable platyfish, Xiphophorus variatus Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis

Killifish Order: Cyprinodontiformes, Family: Fundulidae Non-native, exotic species Northern Plains killifish, Fundulus kansae Banded killifish, Fundulus diaphanus

Minnows

Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Cyprinidae Native species Brassy minnow, Hybognathus hankinsoni Emerald shiner, Notropis atherinoides Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas Flathead chub, Platygobio gracilis Golden shiner, Notemigonus crysoleucas Longnose dace, Rhinichthys cataractae Northern pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus oregonensis (Salish: qʷq̓é) Northern redbelly dace, Phoxinus eos Peamouth, Mylocheilus caurinus Allegheny pearl dace, Margariscus margarita Northern pearl dace, Margariscus nachtriebi Plains minnow, Hybognathus placitus Redside shiner, Richardsonius balteatus Sand shiner, Notropis stramineus Sicklefin chub, Macrhybopsis meeki Western silvery minnow, Hybognathus argyritis Sturgeon chub, Macrhybopsis gelida Lake chub, Couesius plumbeus Creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus Non-native, exotic species Goldfish, Carassius auratus Common carp, Cyprinus carpio Spottail shiner, Notropis hudsonius Utah chub, Gila atraria

Suckers

Order: Cypriniformes, Family: Catostomidae Native species Bigmouth buffalo, Ictiobus cyprinellus Blue sucker, Cycleptus elongatus Largescale sucker, Catostomus macrocheilus Longnose sucker, Catostomus catostomus Mountain sucker, Catostomus platyrhynchus River carpsucker, Carpiodes carpio Shorthead redhorse, Moxostoma macrolepidotum Smallmouth buffalo, Ictiobus bubalus White sucker, Catostomus commersoni

Mudminnows Order: Esociformes, Family: Umbridae Non-native, exotic species Central mudminnow, Umbra limi

Sculpins

Order: Scorpaeniformes, Family: Cottidae Native species Deepwater sculpin, Myoxocephalus thompsonii Mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi Slimy sculpin, Cottus cognatus Spoonhead sculpin, Cottus ricei Torrent sculpin, Cottus rhotheus

Sticklebacks

Order: Gasterosteiformes, Family: Gasterosteidae Native species Brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans

Trout-perch Order: Percopsiformes, Family: Percopsidae Native species Trout-perch, Percopsis omiscomaycus

See also List of amphibians and reptiles of Montana Birds of Montana List of non-marine molluscs of Montana Fishes of Yellowstone National Park

Further reading

Notes